The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-03-10
THIEVES OF THE PRAIRTES.
Coyotes and Wolves the Pests of this Mon
tana CattIemen.

The stockmen annually lose more
from these pests than they do from all
other causes combined. Mr.. John
Churchill, who has large sheep range
on the north side of the Yellowstone,
near here, a short time ago came to
Miles City and reported the loss of 500
sheep out Of band of 1000. The
greater number Of these were slain by
coyotes and wolves. The sheep straved
off in punches, were caught by wolves
in packs, and slain wholesale One lot
Of twenty-five were discovered lying
stark and stiff on the snow, to all APP
pearances uninjured, but upon exami-
nation the death-wound given by their
1eadly enemy, the wolf, was discover
ed-always an artery in some part Of
the body severed, the wolves sucking
at the veins until satisfied, and then
attacking the others in the same way,
leaving the flesh TO rot.
There are three kinds Of wolves in
Montana-the gray wolf, timber or
black wolf, and buffalo wolf The first
and last species are closely related, be-
ing much Of size and color, only the
latter has hybrid blood in his veins
from crossing with coyotes, while the
gray wolf Ia somewhat Of a clear breed,
ike the old timers found in the states
long ago. when those same states were
territories.
The big gray wolf is dangerous
customer to tackle at any time, and
even the most experienced plainsmen
and hunters hesitate to attack him
unless armed and in company. With
the coyote it is totally different. He
is a sneaking, cowardly cur, the s.thief
of the prairies," and under the most
favorable circumstances will run away
from fight rather than risk his worth
less skin. At one Of the military posts
on the frontier, some years ago, the
gray wolves got SO bold that they act
ually entered the garrison. One big
fellow ran along the hospital porch, bit
an officer, jumped on dog and tore him
to pieces, and then had the hardihood
10 attack sentry on post. In this coun-
try gray wolf breeds but once a year.
The young are born about the first of
May, snd sas whelps, inside Of six
weeks, have q thick fur coat Of dark
grayish color. When grown the gray
wolf has an instructive fear of firearms,
and but comparatively few are killed
in this country by means of powder
and ball. They run in packs of nine
or ten, and when in such force will
not hesitate to attack a full-grown
steer. They even hunt deer and elk,
managing to get on the windward side
while the latter are lying in bed, and
then creep up, catlike, only to pounce
on the bic animals before they can
make bound.
Very little is known of the timber
wolf. Tie is Canadian subject and
has no right on this side of the line. If
specimen recently killed on the
haria's will serve as a sample of the
rest of the family | must say that they
should be classed with the grizzlies
and other dangerous customers who
inhabit this section. George Lane,
foreman q a cattle company in the ex-
treme northwest, while riding his srange
looking after stray cattle came sudden
y upon twelve timber wolves and
opened fire upon them with his revol-
yer. He dropped one which was a
regular monster. This fellow measured
six feet from tip to tip, had nails like
a tiger, and paws as large as mans S
hand.
Wolves are very sagacious, but the
cattle are beginning to understand
them. IN the eastern part of Montana
a line rider not long since came upon a
bunch oi cattle apparently closed in a
knot and moving rapidly and eXcitedly
round in a circle with horns out. Per-
ceivinG that something extraordinary
was in progress, the her,ier approached
a. nesr p pon.ibie without being dis
covered aud vaf.hn5 dcyc'npmcuts.
Four or Eve huge black wolves were
running swiftly around the steers, evil
IDENTITY with the intention of stamped
ing them, but they would not stam-
pede. Like the old time infantry
squares repelling a charge Of cavalry,
| the circling steers remained unbrOken
and presented on every side bristling
| front of bayonet horns. The wolves
would make a dash, but some big bull
would make counter charge, scatter
/ ing the enemy like chat, and Fastening
back to the protecting circle before be-
ing attacked individually. After a
Wills the wolves gave up the battle
and skulked Oft into the timber defeat
ed.
The wolves and nondescript dogs
seem to be on very friendly terms.
Around every Indian village in the
! territory are scores upon scores Of
mongrels, who are neither dogs, coy
otes, nor wolves. They are, in short,
nondescripts, and part and parcel of
one or all Of the above. An Indian
1 viii do without a wife, a tepee, food,
I clothing, or anything else, but he wOn't t
/ he without dogs. They are never do
mesticated. except to the Indian, and
are Just as savage and as fierce as
/ their eousins-the wolves. A large
/ dog at Mingsvills, few miles below
/ here, and an enormous buffalo wolf
have formed joint partnership for the
! destruction of all the choice 2-year olds
( in the Bad Lands. The Bad Lands
! C05O Boy SAYS: They have dragged
(. down and partially eaten five or six
head that were found on the prairie,
and there are doubtless many more not
. Vet discovered. If allowed to continue
/ their depredations unchecked it is not
at all unlikely that they Will kill $500
! worth of cattle before spring. A tenth
or even twentieth part of that sum
, offered as @ reward for the scalps of the
F.. two would doubtless result in their
death within a week. 1t would pay
several outfits to join issues in ridding
the country Of these pests.-F'ort heOgh
/ Letter, IN NeW York ItmeS.
a writer in the Boston Post saws